Futurecity, working with Prologis, commissioned internationally acclaimed British artist Shezad Dawood to create Senescent Generator, a major new public artwork for the Cambridge Biomedical Campus (CBC).
Taking the form of a sculptural Yew tree, the work is both a contemplative landmark and a communal gathering space. Fabricated in welded brass, the sculpture is designed to transform with time, darkening naturally and potentially cultivating lichen across its surface. Seasonal planting will evolve around the piece, reinforcing its central themes of adaptation, resilience and renewal.
The Yew tree has long been revered as a symbol of longevity and regeneration, valued in Druidic traditions and in modern science alike. Its unique capacity to root from its own branches mirrors the collaborative spirit of the CBC community, while its biochemical properties - both poisonous and medicinal - speak to the dualities of healing and danger that define biomedical research.
Senescent Generator continues Dawood’s exploration of interspecies systems and the hidden communication networks between plant roots, offering an apt metaphor for the interconnected research ecosystem of the campus. Integrated seating invites reflection, encouraging visitors to consider their place within wider ecological and human networks.
The installation is accompanied by a specially commissioned soundscape by artist Teresa Winter, created from recordings of local Yew trees by Dr. Michal Mos and Marta Kluba. This immersive sound composition deepens the sensory experience, inviting audiences to pause, listen and connect with the rhythms of the natural world.